Iron Winter wins the 2025 Banff Mountain Film Competition Grand Prize

Media Release | November 9, 2025 | Banff, AB

Banff Centre Mountain Film and Book Festival is thrilled to announce Iron Winter as winner of the Grand Prize in the 2025 Banff Mountain Film Competition.

In Mongolia’s frigid Tsakhir Valley, where horses symbolize survival, the ancient tradition of winter herding faces its greatest challenge. Young Batbold, 18, is thrust into the spotlight as he and his friend Tsaaganna are entrusted with safeguarding a herd of 3,000 horses during the deadliest winter on record. With the future of their community at stake, Batbold must confront his fears and insecurities while grappling with the weight of tradition.
 

This year’s international jury includes Ava Karvonen (Canada), a 35-year industry veteran and second-generation filmmaker; Ben Sturgulewski (USA), an acclaimed director, cinematographer, editor, writer, and the 2024 Grand Prize winner for Champions of the Golden Valley; Dina Mufti (UK), a director, producer, film curator, and recipient of the BBC Director General’s Award for Creativity; Sébastien Montaz-Rosset (France), an award-winning filmmaker, co-founder of the production company Montaz-Rosset Studio, and certified high mountain guide; and Subina Shrestha (UK/Nepal), an investigative journalist and cinematic documentary filmmaker.

The Banff Mountain Film Competition submissions include the world’s best adventure, environment, and adrenaline sports films—this year receiving a record-breaking 570 films from 45 countries submitted, with 87 films from 14 countries selected as finalists.

All Film Competition winners were announced on the final night of the 50th anniversary Banff Centre Mountain Film and Book Festival, which took place from November 1-9 at Banff Centre for Arts and Creativity in Banff, Alberta. This year, the Festival screened 17 World premieres, 10 North American premieres, and 29 Canadian premieres, and awarded $30,000 in cash across 10 categories, plus a Grand Prize of $5,000.

The World Tour hits the road following the Festival, bringing the highlights from the Banff Centre Mountain Film and Book Festival to audiences in over 40 countries, with more than 1,000 screenings annually around the globe.

Online films will also be available from November 12-23, 2025 (available in CAN/USA only).
 

The full list of 2025 Banff Mountain Film Competition Award winners are:

Grand Prize
Sponsored by WoolAid | $5,000
Iron Winter
(Australia, 2025, 101 mins)
Director: Kasimir Burgess
Producers: Repeater Productions, Morgan Wright, Ben Golotta, Chris Kamen, Enebish Sengemugaa

Best Film: Adventure
Sponsored by Eclipse Coffee Roasters | $3,000
Underland
(USA, UK, 2025, 79 mins)
Director: Rob Petit
Producers: Sandbox Films, Protozoa Pictures, Spring Films, Planet Octopus Studios, Darren Aronofsky, Ari Handel, Lauren Greenwood, Jessica Harrop

Adapted from the bestselling book by Robert Macfarlane, Underland is a cinematic documentary that voyages into worlds rarely glimpsed by human eyes. Beginning in the shallow soil beneath an old ash tree, we travel alongside three intrepid ‘astronauts of the underworld’ into ancient sacred caves, flooded storm drains, melting glaciers, underwater burial chambers and a deep underground laboratory built to solve the mysteries of the universe.

"Bold, poetic, and breathtakingly original, this adventure is unlike any other—a spellbinding journey deep beneath the skin of the Earth itself. Inviting us into a hidden world of stone, sounds, and time—where the boundaries between science, humanity, and nature dissolve, it is a haunting descent into the planet’s past and future. With stunning cinematography and a spirit of profound curiosity, the film transforms the underworld into a place of enlightenment and possibility."

– Dina Mufti, 2025 Film Competition Jury
 

Best Film: Mountain Culture
Sponsored by Shackleton | $3,000
The Track
(Bosnia & Herzegovina, Canada, 2025, 95 mins)
Director: Ryan Sidhoo
Producers: Spirit of 84 Films, Ryan Sidhoo

The Track is a coming-of-age journey of three teenagers chasing their improbable Olympic dreams in post-war Bosnia. Training on their bullet-riddled luge track left over from the 1984 Winter Games in Sarajevo, the heart of the journey is relatable, sometimes humorous and exciting portrayal of friends striving for a better life despite rekindled nationalism, political corruption, and a murky economic future.

"At a time where there is so much turmoil in the world, this film leaves you feeling optimistic and hopeful about the future for young people living in a post war world. Shelled during the Bosnian war, Sarajevo’s 1984 Winter Games dilapidated luge track is brought back to life by a devoted volunteer coach and three teenage boys as they train and chase improbable Olympic dreams. Unfolding over five years, it's also a story of resilience and you want the boys to succeed as they strive for a better future in this coming-of-age story."

– Ava Karvonen, 2025 Film Competition Jury

Best Film: Environment
Sponsored by Nature United | $3,000
A Life Illuminated
(USA, 2025, 89 mins)
Director: Tasha Van Zandt
Producers: Sandbox Films, Tasha Van Zandt, Sebastian Zeck, Jessica Harrop, Kathryn Everett

Follow trailblazing marine biologist Dr. Edie Widder—one of the first women in her field and one of the first humans to explore the ocean’s twilight zone—as she descends 3,300 feet into the ocean’s darkest depths embarking on her most daring quest yet: to document a bioluminescent phenomenon that could forever change how we understand life on Earth.

"What secrets do the depths of the oceans hold? Through the fearless work of one pioneering scientist, we are invited into the darkest corners of nature, where sunlight never penetrates and life thrives in extraordinary forms. This story uncovers mysteries that were destined to remain unseen and illuminates vibrant worlds. The film’s immersive journey sparks curiosity, inspiring generations of young girls and boys to pursue knowledge and explore realms unknown."

– Subina Shrestha, 2025 Film Competition Jury

Best Film: Climbing
Sponsored by Arc’teryx | $3,000
Old Man Lightning
(USA, 2025, 60 mins)
Director: Dawn Kish
Producers: Dawn Kish Photo and Film, Dawn Kish, John Sherman

The best climbing, comedy, comeback ever made, with a conservation plight. It will make you laugh and cry and maybe piss yer pants.

"What begins as a seemingly simple, irreverent climbing film soon careens into a narratively rich madness. It becomes an exploration of the blinding depths of obsession, and the futile human resistance to the ravages of time—especially if one has, over the course of their lifetime, enjoyed a minimum of three delicious pilsners per day. Equal parts roll-on-the-floor comedy and star-crossed tragedy, it subverts adventure filmmaking cliches around achievement and legacy, and reminds us that it is never too late to discover your life's true calling."

– Ben Sturgulewski, 2025 Film Competition Jury
 

Best Film: Mountain Sports
Sponsored by Lolë | $3,000
Best Day Ever
(USA, 2025, 47 mins)
Director: Ben Knight, Berne Broudy
Producers: Richmond Mountain Trails, Berne Broudy

Best Day Ever follows the stories of adaptive mountain bikers Greg Durso and Allie Bianchi as they navigate the relentless challenges of their disabilities with humour and attitude. Along the way, they embrace the tremendous support, friendship, and joy they find in their rural Vermont riding community.

"This film had me smiling from start to finish. It’s not just the story of bikers pushing themselves after an accident…it’s above all the story of a community that sticks together, invents solutions, and shares every moment, every fall, every progress. You can feel the power of friendship, support, and the pure joy of reclaiming freedom on a bike. This film reminds us that we can push our limits, whether physical or mental, when we are supported and encouraged."

– Sébastien Montaz-Rosset, 2025 Film Competition Jury
 

Best Film: Snow Sports
Sponsored by the American Alpine Club  | $3,000
Le Moulin des Artistes – A Home for Free Spirits
(France, 2025, 25 mins)
Director: Pierre Cadot
Producers: Yucca Films, Patagonia, Pierre Cadot, Julia Schellekens

Some people make a living from their craft. Others can’t live without it. In a 16th century mill in the Chamonix valley, Peter and Anati run Le Moulin des Artistes: a ski workshop, art space, and gathering place for like-minded free spirits. Le Moulin des Artistes shows us how creative expression can bring purpose, build lasting community, and even help overcome disaster.

“Oftentimes these days, it seems as if the whole world is on fire—whether literally or figuratively. This film eloquently highlights the necessity of art and community to sustain us through the most difficult of times. A poet with both words and woodworking, a craftsman and his wife distill their essence into the making of skis, forming deep bonds within their village. Later, that community helps them navigate unimaginable loss. We’re shown that: 'when you’ve got love, you’re able to build things.'"

– Ben Sturgulewski, 2025 Film Competition Jury
 

Best Short Film
Sponsored by Switzerland Tourism  | $3,000
Borrowed from the Earth
(USA, 2025, 15 mins)
Director: Zach Johaneson
Producers: Boulder, Chad Dawson

Throughout their respective histories, both horse and Indigenous people have been corralled. Fences put horses in pens and the Blackfeet on reservations, but the centuries long attempts to subdue both was also successful in strengthening the connection between horse and man.

"Our stories create culture, and they create identity. And stories are transferred down through the remarkable power of language. On the surface, this film may seem to be about the relationship between the Blackfeet Nation and the horse. But it soon submerges us into an ethereal and mythical landscape, guided by a mesmerizing voiceover and breathtaking cinematography—and it becomes clear that this story is doing visceral work to build pride around Native culture and knowledge."

– Ben Sturgulewski, 2025 Film Competition Jury
 

Best Feature Film
Sponsored by Ambler Mountain Works | $3,000
The Last Expedition
(Poland, 2024, 85 mins)
Director: Eliza Kubarska
Producers: Braidmade Films, Monika Braid, Kaspar Winkler

The Last Expedition is the story of Wanda Rutkiewicz, one of the first women to climb the highest peaks on earth. Rutkiewicz entered the men's world of mountaineering uninvited and paid the highest price for it when she disappeared 30 years ago. Her body was never found. After discovering a strange audio recording where Wanda claims "I know perfectly well, that there's no way back for me," the film's director, herself a climber, sets off to the Himalaya to uncover the mystery of her death.

"With my fellow jury members, we were all deeply moved by this rare and mesmerizing film, which turns the mountain movie into something far more intimate. A real investigation that grabs you and doesn’t let go until the very last minute, exploring the mysterious disappearance of a great Himalayan climber. Guided by her own voice, like a ghost from beyond, the film unfolds like a mystery: every discovery reveals a new facet of her disappearance. The director's personal journey into Wanda's world brings suspense, tenderness and a quiet intensity that stays long after the credits roll. A deeply human and captivating film."

– Sébastien Montaz-Rosset, 2025 Film Competition Jury
 

Creative Excellence Award
Sponsored by Core Values Cider Co. | $3,000
A Little Story About Forever
(USA, 2025, 10 mins)
Director: Max Romey
Producers: Trailbound Sketches, Jennifer Langille

This short film about forever unfolds from the POVs of a father and son as they attempt to write a book about what forever means. The father feels overwhelmed by all of the threats to forever and calls an unlikely hero—Mark Ruffalo—to ask for help seeing the big picture.

"The jury felt that this film was a shining example of creative excellence—an exquisite visual composition, where every frame was crafted with care. Centred around a charming father and son relationship with just a dash of Hollywood, the work reminds us that artistry lies not only in big spectacle, but in the ability to reveal the extraordinary within the everyday. A tender, visionary achievement, it’s a testament to the power of the imagination—and reminds us that sometimes, big messages can come in small packages."

– Dina Mufti, 2025 Film Competition Jury

Audience Choice Award
Sponsored by Drop Caramel Co. | $3,000
Best Day Ever
(USA, 2025, 47 mins)
Director: Ben Knight, Berne BroudyProducers: Richmond Mountain Trails, Berne Broudy

Best Day Ever follows the stories of adaptive mountain bikers Greg Durso and Allie Bianchi as they navigate the relentless challenges of their disabilities with humour and attitude. Along the way, they embrace the tremendous support, friendship, and joy they find in their rural Vermont riding community.

Special Jury Mention
Deeper
(Australia, 2025, 90 mins)
Director: Jennifer Peedom
Producers: Stranger Than Fiction Films, Blayke Hoffman, Paul Ryan, Jennifer Peedom

Explorer Richard Harris, key in the Thai cave rescue, risks all diving New Zealand's potentially deepest cave system. As he pushes his way deeper underground with limited air, he questions his motivations and impact on loved ones.

"In a remote part of New Zealand, an obsessive diver convinces a team to help him explore what could be the deepest cave in the world.  This documentary pushes the limits of cave diving and human endurance while examining what it takes to tackle extremely high-risk pursuits and accomplish something that hasn’t been done before."

– Ava Karvonen, 2025 Film Competition Jury

Special Jury Mention
Run Again
(France, 2025, 65 mins)
Director: Alexis Berg
Producers: Little Hell Production, Alexis Berg

Dave Pen is the singer of Archive, an English rock band that has been selling out Europe's biggest venues for 30 years. At 45 years old, Dave is looking for a new lease of life. He signs up for England’s toughest event, the 460-kilometre Spine Race in winter. It's the race of a lifetime and a multi-faceted quest that, in the end, may never end.

"Seeking a new lease of life, a middle-aged man undertakes Britain’s toughest challenge—a 460 kilometre race in brutal winter conditions. What begins as a test of endurance becomes a journey of self-rediscovery. With beautiful cinematography and a distinctive score, the film captures the beauty, pain, and perseverance of one man’s race of a lifetime—powered by reinvention and the unending quest to keep moving forward. An exploration of inner and outer landscape, woven together by music—this is more than just a race film."

– Dina Mufti, 2025 Film Competition Jury

2025 BanffPitch Competition Grand Prize Winner Announced! 

In celebration of its 50th anniversary, the Banff Centre Mountain Film and Book Festival is excited to announce the Grand Prize winner of the inaugural BanffPitch competition—an exciting new initiative supporting young and emerging filmmakers.

The live pitch event took place on November 8, 2025, at 2 p.m. (MST) at the Max Bell Auditorium at Banff Centre for Arts and Creativity, during the nine days of the Festival. The event was free and open to public to attend.

The pitches were evaluated by a jury of renowned filmmakers, producers, and industry experts —Michael Brown (USA), Joni Cooper (Canada), Joachim Hellinger (Germany), Ava Karvonen (Canada), and Greg Moga (USA).

The following winners were announced at the end of the pitch event on November 8, 2025:

Grand Prize
$25,000 – Sponsored by Bray's Run Productions
Echoes of Memory (Australia, Colombia)
By Mateo Arango Guerrero

An unstable peace agreement is signed in Colombia, marking the end of over 60 years of armed conflict. But for Gisela Paredes, leader of the Colombian park rangers collective, the fight is far from over. She embarks on an unprecedented journey to demand that the agreement’s promises of truth, justice, reparation and non-repetition extend beyond her fellow ranger victims to include nature and its territories. Her quest takes her deep into some of the world's most biodiverse national parks, places of stunning beauty that also hold a painful past, revealing the hidden scars of war on the land and the people who protect it. These untold narratives become the foundation for an unprecedented legal case that Gisela will present to the Special Jurisdiction for Peace, challenging the world to redefine what "peace" truly means.
 

First Runner-Up
$10,000 – Sponsored by Beyond Boundaries Films
Waterkeeper (Kyrgyzstan)
By Nazgul Omurzhanova

Waterkeeper follows Nazgul's father, Rysbek, who has provided drinking water to a mountain village of 3,000 people for over 30 years. His work involves traveling 7 km through rugged terrain to a water base in the mountains 2–3 times a week, cleaning it, and sending water to the community. This year, due to health issues, Rysbek must leave his job, but no one in the village is ready to take his place. The film observes how the community faces this challenge, seeks a solution, and experiences the consequences of water scarcity. Through her father’s story, the film highlights the global challenge of limited access to clean drinking water and the vital role of individuals who sustain their communities.

Second Runner-Up
$5,000 Nikon Gear Certificate
Making The Cut (Canada)
By Tyler Burr

A chronic infection is forcing Alicia Newell to consider an elective leg amputation. To understand what life and sport might look like as an amputee, Alicia turns to her climbing partner Nicolas Sabia, a member of Canada’s para-climbing team. With deep insight and an irreverent humour springing from lived experience, Nick and the adaptive community open Alicia’s eyes to the world of adaptive climbing and the daily realities of living with a disability.

The para team schools Alicia on the countless obstacles she could face, but one sticks out to her in particular: difficult approaches and added financial and logistical burdens limit the team from accessing much of Canada’s best outdoor climbing. Alicia decides to organize an adaptive training camp in Canmore in the summer of 2026. She’ll manage resources, support, and logistics—giving the team a chance to train together in the mountains, while Alicia learns from their experiences and reaches a decision regarding her own amputation. Between mountain views, irreverent one-liners, and occasional prosthetic malfunctions, Making The Cut will prove that laughter in the mountains is the best medicine (next to anti-fungals), and introduce Canada’s para-climbing team through the eyes of someone who may soon stand in their shoe(s).

BanffPitch is sponsored by Bray's Run Productions and Beyond Boundaries Films.
With support from Nikon, HOVERAir, and NRS.

Mark your calendar for next year’s Banff Centre Mountain Film and Book Festival – October 31 to November 8, 2026!

2026 Chomolungma Festival Passes now on sale! 
Get a head start on planning the ultimate Festival adventure next year (early bird offer available until January 9, 2026).

For more information or image requests, please contact: 
Jess Elliott
Media and Communications, Banff Centre Mountain Film and Book Festival
Banff Centre for Arts and Creativity
Box 1020,107 Tunnel Mountain Drive
Banff, Alberta
Canada T1L 1H5  
jess_elliott@banffcentre.ca 
 

About Banff Centre Mountain Film and Book Festival: Created 50 years ago, Banff Centre Mountain Film and Book Festival has become the premier event of its kind in the world. The nine-day Festival hosted by Banff Centre for Arts and Creativity in Banff, Canada, showcases the world’s best films, books and photographs on mountain subjects – climbing, culture, environment and natural history, exploration and adventure, wildlife, and sport – and attracts the biggest names in mountaineering, adventure filmmaking, and explorers as presenters and speakers. An international jury will also award over $40,000 in prizes for films and books submitted to this year’s Festival competitions. banffmountainfestival.ca    

Banff Centre Mountain Film and Book Festival Sponsors: The 2025 Banff Centre Mountain Film and Book Festival Presenting Sponsors are Rab and Banff and Lake Louise Tourism. The Festival is also supported by YETI, Oboz Footwear, World Expeditions, The Lake Louise Ski Resort, Grangers, SLY Foods, Duer, Alpine Club of Canada, Arc’teryx, Durston, Wild Life Distillery, Wild Rose Brewery, and KORE.

About Banff Centre for Arts and Creativity: Founded in 1933, Banff Centre for Arts and Creativity is a post-secondary institution built upon an extraordinary legacy of excellence in artistic and leadership development. What started as a single course in drama has grown to become the global organization leading in arts, culture, and creative decision-making across dozens of disciplines. From our home on Treaty 7 territory in the stunning Canadian Rocky Mountains, Banff Centre for Arts and Creativity aims to move everyone who attends our campus – artists, leaders, thinkers, and audiences – to unleash their creative potential and realize their unique contribution to build an innovative, inspiring future through education, performances, convenings, and public outreach. banffcentre.ca